The Operating Environment and Aircraft Performance

A big majority of aircraft accidents actually occur while in taxi, whether from landing or during takeoff and one of the biggest factors in play is the environment, specifically the conditions of the runway. (FAA, 2016.) I'm stationed on Eielson AFB, it's situated in Alaska, so I get firsthand experience on some heavy environmental factors that have a dramatic effect on taxi. Whether its heavy rain, ice or snow, we get it all here at Eielson and even have dedicated people for managing the runways full time! With loss of friction, aircraft have a hard time braking, taxing and are even capable of hydroplaning, a condition where their brakes and control are reduced to near nothing from the lack of friction from riding on the water not the runway, scary.

Image retrieved on July 15, 2021 from https://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000283712/

Thanks to the snow barn (pictured above,) the accumulation of the snow and ice is limited and its effects reduced to provide safe operating conditions. Additionally, some taxiways are sloped, heating is incorporated beneath the front of weather hangars, and there is drain grates incorporated throughout to help reduce the possibility of hydroplaning!

Image retrieved on July 15, 2021 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/343d_Wing

Active management of the runways and the incorporation of a speed limit during sub optimal weather conditions help create a safer operating environment for everyone. We can actually calculate the minimum speed of hydroplaning by multiplying the square root of the main gear tire pressure by nine, (FAA, 2016.) I've personally seen an aircraft suffer the consequences of neglect in proper management of the environment, luckily no one was hurt but any time a running aircraft hydroplanes on a path with a fuel vehicle, it's truly terrifying. 

References 

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration. (2016). Pilot's handbook of aeronautical knowledge. Washington, D.C. :The Administration : [Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., distributed] 

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